Ultimate Guide to G&L Guitars - Andertons Music Co. (2024)

G&L Electric Guitar Range

Many models make up the G&L Guitars range. So, to make it easier for you to navigate to the instrument that takes your fancy from just a glance, simply click on one of the interactive tiles below to skip to that section. If you want to read about each and every electric guitar that G&L has to offer, scroll down the page as normal:

The G&L ASAT is not a Telecaster! While it takes on the traditional T-type body shape and bolt-on construction, signature G&L innovations make this guitar sound and feel a lot more modern. In essence, it's a timeless and familiar guitar design that's been refined for the contemporary musician.

Most G&L ASAT guitars come fitted with Leo Fender-designed MFD pickups, which have a much broader sound than traditional single-coils. If you're after that distinctive Tele "twang", then you'd be better off going for a more vintage-inspired guitar. However, the beauty of G&L's Magnetic Field Design pickups is their fullness and output — making them far more versatile and dynamic. If you want something a bit different though, the G&L ASAT Classic Bluesboy model features an Alnico II neck humbucker instead — forming a configuration that provides an even more diverse array of sounds.

All of G&L's ASAT Classic models come equipped with a boxed-style bridge — a design that even vintage aficionados will feel at home with! The '50s vibe remains intact with its brass saddles too, but with 6 individual saddles for each string instead of old-school barrel saddles, you can intonate them much more precisely.

Key Features

• MFD single-coil pickups
• Master volume & tone controls
• Satin-finished Maple neck
• Medium Jumbo frets
• Boxed steel bridge with brass saddles

Many musicians consider the ASAT Special as the quintessential G&L guitar, created by Leo Fender in 1985. It's very similar to the standard G&L ASAT in terms of construction and feel, but features 'Jumbo' versions of the company's MFD pickups. These project a slightly fatter sound with a punchier mid-range, akin to a P-90. The G&L ASAT Special therefore fares a little better with overdrive and distortion sounds, making it more adaptable for different genres of music.

This particular model is also fitted with G&L's Saddle-Lock bridge rather than the traditional boxed-style bridge found on the ASAT Classic. It's a beautifully-engineered design that features a clever mechanism which essentially stops the saddles from moving, for a consistent distance between the strings and to enhance the string vibrations through the body for increased resonance and sustain.

Key Features

• MFD Jumbo single-coil pickups
• Master volume & tone controls
• Satin-finished Maple neck
• Medium Jumbo frets
• Saddle-Lock bridge

The Legacy is a popular G&L guitar that's been in the brand's catalogue for over 30 years. Although it sports various forward-thinking features innovated by the late Leo Fender, including the silky Dual-Fulcrum tremolo and flexible 'PTB Tone System', it's fair to say that the Legacy blends together some of the most time-honoured options from the G&L option order menu — making it more reminiscent of a classic S-style guitar.

The main appeal of the Legacy model is its vintage-like sound, which is comparable to a standard Stratocaster. This is generated by a set of G&L's CLF-100 pickups, which are medium-output Alnico single-coils that possess a clear and bell-like character but with a slightly hot mid-range — akin to a '60s Strat. The G&L Legacy HB is an HSS version of the Legacy, fitted with a thick-sounding G&L AW4470 Alnico humbucker for a wider sonic palette.

Key Features

• CLF-100 Alnico single-coil pickups
• PTB Tone System
• Satin-finished Maple neck
• Medium Jumbo frets
• Dual-Fulcrum vibrato

Introduced in 1982, the G&L S-500 was Leo Fender’s own evolution of the iconic single-coil-loaded, double-cutaway electric guitar that he invented in the mid-'50s. Decades later, the G&L S-500 has been modernised and developed even further to suit the latest generation of players who want the most practical and versatile S-style guitar they can find!

The S-500 shares many of its features with the G&L Legacy, namely the ultra-stable Dual-Fulcrum vibrato and the acclaimed PTB Tone System (passive treble/bass controls). However, what sets the S-500 apart is its set of low-noise, high-output Magnetic Field Design (MFD) pickups — which have a much fuller and more modern sound than the vintage-inspired CLF-100 single-coils installed in the Legacy model.

G&L's S-500 guitar also comes equipped with an 'Expander' mini-toggle switch, which is discretely placed between the volume and tone controls (on the Tribute Series S-500, this is a push/pull knob instead). The Expander function adds two additional pickup selections when used in conjunction with the 5-position selector switch — enabling combinations of the neck and bridge pickups for a T-style configuration, or engaging all three pickups for an even bigger sound!

Key Features

• MFD single-coil pickups
• PTB Tone System
• Expander mini-toggle switch
• Satin-finished Maple neck
• Medium Jumbo frets
• Dual-Fulcrum vibrato

Unveiled in 1998, the Comanche takes Leo Fender’s final S-type guitar formula to new heights! While the timeless body shape remains intact, the Comanche is otherwise a huge departure from the decades-old design. It's similar to G&L's S-500 model with its smooth Dual Fulcrum tremolo, PTB Tone System (passive treble/bass controls) and Expander mini-toggle switch that opens up additional pickup combinations. But there are three components that make it an entirely different beast — the trio of 'Z-Coil' pickups!

While not the prettiest-looking things, the Comanche's MFD Z-Coil pickups are actually incredibly sophisticated and, probably, one of G&L's most underappreciated innovations in their post-Leo Fender era. Because of their irregular Z-shape, these pickups emphasise the bass frequencies of your lower strings and the treble of your higher strings, resulting in a much more well-balanced and contemporary sound. Their distinctive design also eliminates 60-cycle hum — for noise-free, single-coil magic!

Key Features

• MFD Z-Coil pickups
• PTB Tone System
• Expander mini-toggle switch
• Satin-finished Maple neck
• Medium Jumbo frets
• Dual-Fulcrum vibrato

G&L also took inspiration from Leo Fender’s early offset guitar designs, with their Doheny model evoking some serious "jazz" vibes. However, in standard G&L fashion, they've taken a familiar shape and improved it with a range of their signature, innovative features that include the silky Dual-Fulcrum vibrato and Leo Fender-designed Magnetic Field Design (MFD) pickups.

However, by sporting a pair of MFD single-coils just like, say, the G&L ASAT — what makes the Doheny unique sonically? Well, this model comes loaded with a pair 'Wide-Bobbin' MFD single-coils that are voiced to project more "jangle" than "twang" — featuring traditional Formvar wire to capture the nostalgic ‘60s offset tone. Pair those with the flexible PTB Tone System (passive treble/bass controls), and you've got yourself a surprisingly versatile instrument!

Key Features

• Wide-Bobbin MFD single-coil pickups
• PTB Tone System
• Satin-finished Maple neck
• Medium Jumbo frets
• Dual-Fulcrum vibrato

The G&L Fallout guitar is a pure rock 'n' roll machine with alternative style in abundance! If you’re a contemporary player looking for a unique-looking instrument that can transcend multiple genres — this is a contender that you should definitely consider.

It features a completely original semi-offset body shape that's both comfortable and light — with a cool, curvy pickguard to boot. But the party piece of the Fallout is its flexible pickup pairing that comprises a punchy P-90 in the neck position, and a powerful bridge humbucker that can be split for spanky single-coil tones — courtesy of the push/pull tone knob. The Paul Cagon-designed Alnico humbucker dishes the dirt when used in conjunction with overdrive or distortion, making the Fallout one of G&L's best guitars optimised for heavier styles, whereas the P90 yields a warm and creamy tone that remains focused in the mid-range.

Key Features

• Versatile humbucker/P-90 pickup pairing
• Master volume & tone controls (with push/pull coil tap)
• Satin-finished Maple neck
• Medium Jumbo frets
• Modern 12" fingerboard radius
• Saddle-Lock bridge

This is the ultimate homage to Leo Fender. The G&L Espada is the last ever guitar that the hugely-influential inventor designed, and it’s a real looker — borrowing its shape from a number of G&L models that include the Skyhawk, ASAT and Doheny. Surviving only in sketches (with some of the earliest drafts dating back to the late '60s), the G&L team brought the beautiful Espada to life in 2019. This really could be the most versatile, and dare say, "complete" guitar that Leo Fender ever designed — essentially 50 years in the making!

The Espada is easily the most sophisticated electric guitar in the G&L line-up, with its electronics offering up a near-unlimited amount of tonal flavours to the player. Sporting a pair of hum-cancelling MFD 'Split-Coil' pickups (similar to the Z-Coils fitted in the G&L Comanche model), it's the onboard 9V 'Micro Preamp' that really sets the Espada apart — controlled by a mini-toggle switch with positions for off (passive output), on (buffered lo-Z output), and on with a high-frequency boost that can really cut through in a dense mix.

Throw in G&L's versatile PTB Tone System (passive treble/bass controls) and a series/parallel switch that lets you attain thick, round tones or thin, sparkly sounds — and the Espada becomes a sonic chameleon adaptable for multiple musical genres. It really is something special.

Key Features

• MFD Split-Coil hum-cancelling pickups
• 9V Micro Preamp with 3-position mode switch
• PTB Tone System
• Series/parallel switch
• Medium Jumbo frets
• Saddle-Lock bridge
• Kluson tuners

The Skyhawk is another old-school G&L model that's been brought back to life in the 21st Century. Originally designed by George Fullerton in 1984 as an evolved double-cutaway guitar of sorts — the Skyhawk is now regarded as one of G&L's best all-rounders, and is very similar to the S-500.

A trio of Leo-Fender-designed MFD pickups allow the Skyhawk to soar sonically, possessing that coveted single-coil articulation but with a much fuller sound that's higher in output than most vintage pickups. There are extra tone-shaping possibilities too, thanks to the clever G&L PTB Tone System that essentially acts as a passive 2-band EQ (treble and bass controls), and an Expander mini-toggle switch (push/pull tone knob on the Tribute Series Skyhawk) which serves up two extra pickup combinations — bridge and neck, and all three single-coils engaged in unison. The Skyhawk HH is a dual-humbucker version, which is designed for guitar players after a thicker sound that's more suited for heavier styles.

Key Features

• MFD single-coil pickups
• PTB Tone System
• Expander mini-toggle switch
• Satin-finished Maple neck
• Medium Jumbo frets
• Dual-Fulcrum vibrato